We all want to do the right thing. This is a normal part of being human; however, sometimes what others expect of us, and even what we expect of ourselves, can cause undue pressure and stress in our lives. If we are not careful, we can get caught up in ceaseless religious striving and efforts to measure up to others’ expectations (which traps us in pride). Falling prey to this mindset causes feelings of guilt, shame, and condemnation that God wants us to avoid. We can either wear ourselves out working hard to follow the world’s rules and jump through all of its hoops to achieve success, or we can rest in God’s grace and have success come to us. Trying to meet the world’s expectations can leave us exhausted and overwhelmed. We only find the rest and the peace God wants for us by moving away from rule-keeping and receiving, by faith, the good things He wants to bless us with.
Understanding Grace | Empowering Change